Laziness in Cairo

Another week over - and with that my time at the MIU (Misr international university), here in Cairo, comes to an end - and with that also my time as a student attending classes and writing exams.

For sure my last two uni exams were kind of different. The exam on last Monday had the special treat for me that suddenly somebody’s question sheet - including short answers - was lying on my table - although there are like 3 guards over watching the exams. I had no idea where suddenly the paper came from - but was more than pleased as it contained the answers I required. As I found out half an hour later, the assistant must have accidentally taken the question sheet of one of the other students and left it on my table when I signed the attendance paper... oh what luck... of course I pretended not to understand a word of Arabic when suddenly a big cry started regarding to where the his question sheet with the answers is. Oh well... But for sure my student career couldn’t end too smooth with the last exam - as I somehow must have mixed up times and got a surprising call telling me that the exam was in 40 min. while I was still lying in bed sipping my tea. Considering the fact that it is a 1h drive to uni - I got there 20 min late - but still was able to finish the exam early - as my mind was empty... Well - so much for my time at uni here.

But that’s not all that happened last week - no - I also started my internship here at a EU project to poverty reduction concentrating on street kids, disabled kids. As I only had 2 days so far - it’s hard to give an overall statement regarding the internship - but it looks promising. My area will be within organisational development and capacity building of NGOs (non-governmental organisations). Let’s see how it will work out... for sure ill write a line or two to inform you...

Uhhh and then i went to the opera yesterday - Carmen ballet - very very nice. You know that is actually what I like about Egypt - cultural events are accessible to everybody - even if you have a low budget.

Uhhh and just to give you another insight in my luxury life here - we went grocery shopping - 2 trolleys full of stuff - including washing powder - cans of food - etc - and instead of carrying it home like donkeys - we gave them our address and they actually came 1h later carrying it up to the 4th floor. All we had to do is put it in the new fridge. And to top this - as we forgot toilet paper and milk, I just now (half past eleven in the evening) called the supermarket and asked them kindly to bring milk and toilet paper to our home - ohhh my life is sooooo amazing... and now that I even have the number of the vegetable guy and the pharmacy (not that I need stuff from there regularly) I don’t have to go out of the house any more... ohhh lazy lifeeeee....

Well if we think of it the other way round - I guess this is one reason why women get fat here faster - as they don’t have to move. Furthermore it is not only grocery etc that is being delivered - no even mc Donald’s brings you food 24h... now tell me - how are you supposed to loose weight in a city that has a 24h food supply and restricted moving/ walking possibilities? I mean - even to go down the road - you take a cab here. But no - not enough - even dry clean is picked up daily and brought back within 24h. Did I mention that not only delivery is a luxury aspect here but also having a cleaning lady that cooks for you.... well actually this part is a little restricted as the cooking variety varies between milk rice and mahshi (filled vegetables = dolma)

Well on the one side it is total luxury - but of course it has the negative side of not having to leave the house. Laziness is supported tremendously.